When you work around the home doing odd jobs and renovation projects, or minor building projects that involve breaking into the tool bag, it’s important to know what tools you have available. Having just the right tool is often the single most important key to success. Sometimes, without the right tool in your arsenal, a job actually can’t be done. This post takes a look at a few different types of hammers, with a brief introduction to what you can expect from each type.

The standard hammer is also referred to as the claw hammer, and it’s probably the one you’ve all heard of. This hammer can be used for just about any job, and it’s especially handy for framing or working with wood. The claw is curved and the cut-out accommodates nails that can be pried up from their surfaces. The handle can be made of a variety of materials, including wood and steel.

The ball pein hammer is typically known as an engineer’s tool. The pein, or hammering end, is rounded, to make for easier use when shaping metal or dealing with rivets. The handle is often made of wood.

The club or lump hammer has two heads, rather than a head and a fork. This tool is most often used for smaller demo jobs, like breaking up drywall, for instance. The jack hammer, which is larger than a single-hand hammer, is also used for demo jobs, more often larger-scale ones. The hammer is swung with two hands, much like an axe, with a wooden elongated handle and a steel two-faced head.

The electrician’s hammer tends to include an elongated neck and a narrower striking area, so that the user can get into electrical boxes and other, more confined spaces. Similarly, the long, straight claws are designed for the removal of electrical fixtures.

There are a great deal more hammers to be aware of, and these will be covered in a future post on specialty hammers.

(Image Via: Contractor’s Choice)